Combined signal, spotlight, and mirror



June 12, 1923.

D. L. HARRIS ET AL COMBINED SIGNAL, SPOTLIGHT, AND MIRROR FiledMarch 14,1921 5 Sheets-Sheet 1 IN VEN TORS fiamel L. Harris Helm W Resmck GeorgeL. Goff/nan ZZ/w June 12, 1923. 1,458,703

D. L. HARRIS ET AL COMBINED SIGNAL, SPOTLIGHT, AND MIRROR Filed March 141921 3 Sheets-Shea 2 a fi; a: g a q :5 i i N x v E w N 5 h Li R: N

JNVENTGRS Hezm W Ram-Oi, Dame! L. Harris George L. Coffman J1me 12,1923. 1,458,703

D. L. HARRIS ET AL COMBINED SIGNAL, SPOTLIGHT, AND MIRROR Filed March14, 1921 3 Sheets-Sheet 5 FIG. 8 j

I N VEN TORS l Danie) L. Harm's Helm W Regmck George L. Ooffmarz z/zw ATTORNE Y.

Patented June 12, 1923.

UNITED STATES 1,458,703 PATENT. OFFICE.

DANIEL L. HARRIS, GEORGE 'L. COFFIVIAN, AND HEIM W. 'RESNICK, OFWICHITA, KANSAS, SAID HARRIS ASSIGNOR 'OF ONE-SIXTH TO RAY Gr. ROGERS,OF PONCA CITY, OKLAHOMA.

COMBINED SIGNAL, SPOTLIGHT, AND MIRROR.

Application filed March 14, 1921. Serial No. 452,356.

vehicles.

A further object is to produce an improved traflic signal of thesemaphore type, that is easily installed upon a motor car and comprisesno shafts nor gearing, and that is operated by a single lever located anconvenient position to the drivers hand and close to the steering wheel.The signaling device is so constructed as to indicate to other drivers,and pedestrians, the intended stopping. backing o t-urning of the car,and the direction of such turning. The signal comprises, essentially, ahousing :provided with means for attachment to a windshield-frame, and apivotally mounted hand or pointer, and manually-operable means forsetting the pointer to several different position-angles.

Reference is now had to the accompanying drawings, which are partlydiagrammatic but show the essential features of the invention and themode of operation. In said drawings, Fig. 1 is a. rear elevation of thesignal and mirror, with parts of a motor car to which it may beattached, the control-wire being broken; Fig. 2 is an=interiorelevational view of thersignal proper; Fig. 3 is a top plan viewof:the;pointer, omitting certain parts; Fig. 4 is a detail View taken onsection line IV of Fig. 2, showing the lens arrangement; Fig. 5 is adetail view of part 6; Fig. 6 is a sectional detail view of one of theelectric cont-act devices; Fig. 7 is a detail View of the control-leverand quadrant, detached; Fig. 8 shows the spot light partly in sideelevation and partly in section, with the signal and mirror inelevation.

Referring now to Fig. 1: F denotes an up right member of the outer frameF of a motor-ca windshield G. 4:, is a circular housing composed ofparallel plates & connected by bolts 5, 5' and provided with a metalcover 4: The housing is rigidly attached to the member F by a pair ofclamps or clips 7, of any suitable construction. If made of sheet metal,said clips may be integral with one of the plates4.

The bolt. 5 forms a pivot for the pointer 6, which is formed byduplicated plates 6, connected by a bolt 8 and by a cover-plate 9. Fixedbetween said plates is a receptacle 10 for a lamp base 12 in which is abulb I 13, located at the outer end of the pointer.

Concentric with the bulb, circular openings I 14 are cut in the plates6, and a pai .of colored glass lenses 15 are mounted over said openingsas shown in detail by Fig. 4. Each lens is spaced outward by a ring 16and held in position by an outer flanged ring '17 soldered to theadjacent plate. To permit.

the light of-the lamp 123 to shine laterally on the outer faces of thepointer, the spacing rings 16 are cut-away on the side facing the pivot,forming slits 1 8.

The insulated wire 19 fromreceptacle 10, which is of the one-wire type,is led to an insulated bolt 20 of which Fig. 6 isa detail View. Saidbolthas a convex head 20' which contacts either of two "conductingsegments 22, 23, mounted on an insulating plate 24 secured to one of theplates 4. An-insulated wir 25 is connected to the most convenient wireof the lighting system of the car, which i is here assumed to be of theone-wire type. The segments 22, 23 are concentric with the pivot 5 aboutwhich the pointer is movable.

To protect the bulb 13 from breakage, a

curved shield -27'is mounted on a pivot 28 whereby the shield may beraised to permit the-removal or insertion of abulb.

: Normally, the pointer is fully concealed by the housing, bein at theposition indicated by one set of otted lines on Fig. 2.

It is tensioned toward this position by a spring 30, having a wire orcable end 31 passing under a grooved roller 32 and anchored to the bolt8.

The pointer is actuated against said spring by means of a Bowden wirewhich is a sheathed wire of the kind used in motorcycle controls. Oneend of this wire 34. is anchored to the stud or bolt 8 in the pointerand is wound once around a roller 33, thence passed over grooved rollers35, mounted on pins Y The flexible helical tube 37 in which the wire 84is slidable, passes through a sleeve 38, secured to plate 4, thence to asector drum shifting the lever to the second notch will turn the pointerto position B; and so on; the pointer being actuated by the traction ofwire 34 upon the pin or bolt 5. Preferably, the lever latch 44 is madeself-releasing.

A suitable bumper, indicated at 46, Fig. 2, may be provided as a stopfor the return motion of the pointer to normal position.

Arbitrary meanings (as agreed on) are to be assigned to the severalpositions of the pointer, and said meanings may include reverse as wellas turn right turn left and Stop.

The electric light 13 may be employed at night only if so preferred, byopening the circuit by a plug or switch (not shown) when the light isnot desired. When the pointer is within its housing, the circuit throughthe lamp is broken, as the wiper head 20 is out of contact with the livesegment 23. But when the pointer is thrown to position A or farther, thewiper contacts the live segment and lights the lamp. This makes visiblea colored light from both front and rear of the car, and a portion ofthe light, shining laterally through the slits 18, illuminates the bodyof the pointer on each side thereof, thus increasing its visibility.

On Fig. 1 we show, as an unessential attachment, a rear-vision mirror,48, which may be mounted upon the back plate of the housing 4. This willbe an added convenienceto drivers, and adds an ornamental finish to thesignal and its housing.

Several modifications in details of construction may be resorted towithout exceed- Secured on shaft ing the scope or departing from theprinbattery-wire 56 is passed through the guide 57 and is connected toan insulated metal segment 58 mounted on plate 4. The pointer carries abutton or wiping device 59, in electrical contact with the pointer(hence grounded) and positioned to contact the segment 58 except whenthe pointer is at non-registering position.

A spot light of any construction similar to that shown on Fig. 8 of thedrawings, may be made a part of the signal housing; the front plate 4 ofsaid housing forms a suitable base for a flange having a threaded stud51 thereon. This stud is socketed to receive a ball-knob 52 on the stemof the spot light hood, 53. The sleevenut 54 holds the parts in placeand provides any desired degree of friction. The angle of the light isadjustable by means of the handle 55 on the hood.

Having described our invention, we claim as new and desire to secure byLetters Patent:

In a combined signal, spot light and mirror, a housing member having aslot in the outer edge portion thereof; a hollow semaphore in the shapeof a human hand pivotally mounted within the housing and normallyconcealed therein by spring means; means for outwardly and arbitrarilypivoting said semaphore through said slot against said springresistance; an electric bulb in an electric circuit withinthe extendedforefinger portion of the hand; colored lenses DANIEL L. miners. GEORGEL. COFFMAN. HEIM W. RESNIGK;

WVitnesses: I M. Y. CHARLES, W. A. NETHERCOT.

